Rondout sets sights on postseason
Experienced Ganders look to make a run to postseason in tough Section 9, Class B
KYSERIKE >> After a year away from the playoffs, Rondout Valley High’s football team is eager to return to the Section 9, Class B postseason.
And it looks like the Ganders have the manpower to achieve that goal.
“I think we can definitely do that this year,” said Andrew Koonz, one of Rondout’s large senior contingent. “We have all the pieces for it to happen. I’m excited.”
Rondout opens the season Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. home game against Saugerties.
The 2014 Ganders — without the All-Star group that included Keith Malak, Brett Steers, Thomas Riordan, etc, — regrouped and then clearly showed a hint of their future by ending the season winning three of four to finish at 5-4.
“Last year, we were a juniorladen team. We weren’t really battle tested that well,” Rondout head coach George Iacobaccio said.
He knew he had athletes, but now they’re seasoned athletes.
“Honestly, this team is way better than what we thought we were going to be,” senior quarterback Jake Hikade admitted. “We can take people out and their backups
are just as good as them. Everyone on this team can score touchdowns, do anything on defense.
“Everybody’s a playmaker on this team. It’s great. Everyone’s a weapon. The next guy’s in and he’s a weapon. It’s hard to prepare for us this year because we have so many guys you have to cover.”
“We have a nice, huge core of kids coming back, including Andrew Koonz, Jake Hikade, (senior receiver/cornerback) Justin Beck and (senior linebacker/running back) Sherman Kelly,” Iacobaccio said.
“We had a bunch of athletes then,” said Iacobaccio about the 2013 squad that made the section finals, “but, this year, I feel like we have double the athletes.
“This is probably the most athletes we’ve had since I coached with Jimmy (Malak). I feel we have the most athletes since the 2006 team,” said Iacobaccio, referring to the Gander
squad that went 8-2 and lost to Cornwall in the Class B finals. “I think we’re at a real good point with the program.”
“Our defense will be a lot faster,” said Koonz, a receiver/cornerback. “We have a lot of skilled players, like receivers and backs. We’re two or three deep there. Everyone can get the job done, do what they have to do.”
The speed has come about from all the offseason work the Ganders have put in.
“We have a ton of team speed this year,” Iacobaccio said. “We have speed at a lot of positions and we have some size up front.”
Rondout’s line includes 260-pounders Alan Kelly (senior) and Lloyd Henry (junior), senior Arnold Elliott at 235 and junior Jacob Crotty at 230.
Contributions will be coming not only from one of the largest senior groups Rondout has had, but also from newcomers and former players. Lucky Ludwig has returned to the program for his senior year and could be a key player in the backfield.
Hikade’s younger brother, Ben, is up from the junior varsity.
The sophomore, who used to play 1-on-2 against Koonz and his brother in the Hikade back yard, is aggressive and versatile. He’ll be a wide receiver, backup quarterback, cornerback and outside linebacker.
Offseason work also allowed players to step up to fill key spots. Thomas Pereira, a senior, has ably moved from receiver to play right tackle.
“We’ve got a lot of kids that we can really depend on,” Koonz said. “I feel we are two or three deep in almost every spot.”
The experienced unit is ready to dig deeper into offensive coordinator Bob Koonz’s playbook.
“We’ve been running my dad’s offense since ninth grade,” Andrew Koonz noted.
“We know a lot of the tricks already. Now we’re just adding little things. We’ve almost got it all mastered.”
“He’s not given up all his tricks yet,” Iacobaccio countered.
Koonz laughed and admitted, “Yeah. He’s got more stuff up his sleeve.”
The Ganders certainly would like to put a new name on the B plaque after four years of Marlboro rule.
“It’s time to end their stranglehold on the B Division,” Iacobaccio said.
“I think we’ll definitely win more games than last year. The goal is to win Class B,” Koonz said. “We didn’t even make it to the playoffs last year. I think that’s definitely going to happen this year.”
“I don’t care what anybody else has. As long as we work hard and we do what we have to do, I like our chances this year,” Iacobaccio said. “I’m saying that if we do the things we can do, we should put an end to Marlboro’s stranglehold.”
“We’re ready for this year,” Hikade said. SCHEDULE Sept.—5, SAUGERTIES, 1:30 p.m; 11, ELLENVILLE, 7 p.m.; 18, at Chester, 7 p.m.; 25, at Marlboro, 7 p.m. Oct.—3, SPACKENKILL, 3 p.m.; 10, HIGHLAND, 1:30 p.m.; 17, at Red Hook, 1:30 p.m. All home games in CAPS.